Time switch



H. M. BRITT TIME SWITCH Jan. 7, 1941.

2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed May 2;, 1940 CLOCK In ve ntor Jkrold M fin?! A ffome y RADIO H. M. BRITT TIME SWITCH Jan. 7, 1941.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 23, 1940 Inventor liarald .M: fir! By @Mm Attorney Patented Jan. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a time switch for use with radios or other electric appliances, the general object of the invention being to provide clock operated means for operating a switch at any desired time so that the circuit of the appliance will be broken or closed, with means for rendering the device inoperated whenever desired.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front view showing the invention applied to a radio.

Figure 2 is a rear view of the top part of Figure 1, with parts broken away.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view showing the cam in dotted lines and showing the latch member which is actuated by the cam.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view showing the latch means in operated position and with the parts in circuit closing position.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit.

Figure 7 is'a view of the numbered plate.

While the drawings show the invention in use with a radio it is to be understood that the construction can be used for controlling the circuit of other electrical appliances.

In these drawings the letter A indicates a housing which is shown as supported on a radio R- and said housing supports a clock 0, the motor M of which operates a gear I which meshes with a second gear 2 rotatably supported in the rear part of the housing and which rotates a cam 3. Supporting means S in the casing or housing A carries the two contacts 4 through means of the non-conducting member 5 and a block 5 of non-conducting means is also supported by the means S. A plug 1 is slidably supported in a hole in the block 6 and passes through a hole in the plate 8 forming part of the supporting means S and said plug has a socket 9 in its inner end in which is pivoted an end portion of a substantially Z-shaped latch member 10, said end being enlarged as shown at II to form a latch which is adapted to be pressed through an opening in the wall of the socket 9 by a spring l2 when the parts 7 flange IT on the front end of the plug and has are in a position shown in Figure 5. The other end of the plug has a non-circular socket therein for receiving the non-circular inner end of a stem l3 which passes through the front of the housing and has a knob 14 at its front end and spring means 15 acts to hold the stem in projected position but permitting the stem to be pressed inwardly to move the plug 1 inwardly so that the latch part, I I can be projected through the opening in the wall of the socket 9 by the spring I2 as shown in Figure 5. A plate l6 of non-conducting material is located in the supporting means S in front of the block 6 and engages a pins I8 thereon engaging sockets in the block 6 5 with springs IS in the sockets pressing the pins outwardly so that these springs act to hold the plate l6 and the plug 1 in projected position, as shown in Figure 4 with the latch member ID in inoperative position. A bridge member 20 is carried by a part of the plate 16 and when the parts are pressed inwardly as shown in Figure 5 this member 20 will bridge the contacts 4 as shown in Figure 5. When the plate I6 is in its outward or projected position a bridge member 2| thereon will bridge the contacts 22 of a switch 23 to close the circuit connected with the switch. A numbered disk 24, see Figure 7, is carried by the stem l3 and rotates therewith and a window 25 is formed in the front of the housing A through which anyone of the numbers on the disk will appear when the disk is turned by turning of the knob 14. An auxiliary switch 26 is used with the invention and in the drawings this auxiliary switch is the switch for controlling the circuit of the radio and one of the terminals 21 of this auxiliary switch is connected with one of the contacts 4 and the other terminal is electrically connected with a contact 22, the other contact 22 being electrically connected with the 40 radio and the other contact 4 is connected with the radio as shown in Figure 6. This Figure 6 also shows the clock connected with the circuit and as shown the clock is supplied with current at all times as long as the circuit is connected 45 with the supply.

Thus it will be seen that the cam is rotated by the clock mechanism and while the drawings show the cam as being rotated one revolution every twelve hours the gears may be so arranged as to rotate the cam once in 24 hours.

To set the device the stem I3 is first turned to set the dial at the desired figure and then the stem is moved inwardly by pressure upon the knob l4 and this pushes inwardly the plug 1 and the plate 16 and when the latch part II of the latch member In passes the plate 8 the spring l2 forces the latch part II outwardly through the hole so that this part will engage the plate 8 and hold the plug and the plate IS in the position shown in Figure 5. When pressure is removed from the knob II the spring I! will return the stem and knob to normal position and when the knob is first turned to bring the desired numeral on disk 24 into view at the window 25, this numeral will indicate the time it is desired to shut oil the radio, if the parts are arranged to break the circuit of the radio at any desired time, the drawing showing this arrangement. However, if desired the parts can be arranged to turn on the radio at any desired time. This turning of the plug 1 will place the latch member in in a position where it will be engaged by the cam 3 when the time arrives for which the device is set. When this time arrives the cam will engage the projecting part of the latch member ill so that this latch member will move on its pivot against the action of the spring I! and the latch part II will be moved inwardly to releasing position so that the springs 19 will project the plate I5 and the plug 1 which remove the latch member from the path of the cam and the engagement of the part II with a part of the block 5 will hold the latch member in releasing position as shown in Figure 4. The bridge member I 2 with move out of engagement with one of the contacts 4 and thus break the circuit to the radio and the bridge member 2| will bridge the contacts 22 so that if it is desired to use the radio without the time switch it would simply be necessary to move the auxiliary switch 26 into engagement with the right contact 21 and then the current will pass through this auxiliary switch through the switch 23 to the radio as shown in Figure 6. Of course, when the time device is to be used the auxiliary switch 26 is moved into engagement with the left contact 21.

Thus the radio can be set to be stopped at any desired time.

As before stated, the time switch can be used with other electrical appliances and it can be used to close the circuit of such appliances or to break the circuit.

If the operator changes his mind after setting the switch and desires to reset the switch to a different numeral, he can turn the dial to the left. This brings the latch into proper contact with the cam and releases the time switch for resetting and then the operator can set the switch to operate at the desired time.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A time switch of the class described comprising a cam, clock mechanism for rotating the cam, a circuit controlling member, a latch carrying member supported for sliding and rotary movement, a latch member carried by the sliding member and spring actuated, manually operated means for moving the sliding member to a position when the latch member will be projected to hold the sliding member in such position and with the latch member in the path of the cam, and spring means for moving the sliding member and the circuit controlling member when the latch member is released by the cam.

2. A time switch of the class described comprising a cam, clock mechanism for rotating the cam, a circuit controlling member, a latch car rying member supported for sliding and rotary movement, a latch member carried by the sliding member and spring actuated, manually operated means for moving the sliding member to a position where the latch member will be pro- J'ected to hold the sliding member in such position and with the latch member in the path of the cam, spring means for moving the sliding member and the circuit controlling member when the latch member is released by the cam, a pair of contacts, a bridge member carried by the circuit controlling member for bridging the two contacts, a second pair of contacts, a second bridge member carried by the circuit controlling member for bridging the second pair of contacts when the first bridge member is in inoperative position.

3. In a device of the class described, clock mechanism, a cam operated thereby, supporting means, a plug slidably and rotatably supported by said means, a latch member carried by the plug, spring means for holding the latch member in operative position and with a part thereof in the path of the cam, manually operated means for moving the plug inwardly to permit the spring to project the latch member to hold the plug in its inward position and with the latch member in the path of the cam, said manually operated means also turning the plug to any desired position, an indicia carrying member operated by said manual means for indicating the position of the plug when turned and a circuit controlling member movable with the plug.

HAROLD M. BRITT. 

